Free ELCA Coaching opportunities are available throughout June, including sessions on healing, Indigenous truth-telling, and systems change. Advance registration is required for some trainings. A new coach training program also begins June 30. Learn more and register at elcacoaching.org.
Read MoreFrom prayer-writing guides to music planning tools and flexible Bible study resources, Augsburg Fortress continues to offer vital worship materials to support congregational leaders. New this month: a Musician’s Guide to Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Praying for the Whole World: A Handbook for Intercessors, and Together by Grace: Bible Conversations.
Also featured are customizable bulletin and lectionary insert options and registration details for this summer’s music clinics in five U.S. cities. Click here to explore the full list of resources from ELCA Worship and Augsburg Fortress.
Read MoreDo you know someone whose leadership makes a difference in their community? The ELCA’s Building Resilient Communities team is seeking nominations for its inaugural Building Resilient Leadership cohort—a yearlong program focused on public leadership, justice-centered projects, and peer mentorship. Nominations are open through June 16, with applications due July 7.
Nominees must be adults (18+) ready to commit to monthly workshops, a community project, and national networking. Participants will receive seed money, hands-on support, and training from ELCA ministries like World Hunger, AMMPARO, and Lutheran Disaster Response. Click here to learn more or nominate a leader today.
Read MoreWith Pastor Marcos Canales and Nina Lau Branson, discover how being church in a community crisis goes far beyond emergency preparedness in the latest Pivot podcast.
Read MoreIn this insightful episode of the Pivot Podcast, we talk with Dwight Zscheile about the concept of "one church multiple models" through what he calls a "mixed ecology" approach.
Read MoreJoin Lutheran pastors, deacons, musicians, and scholars August 13–15 in Minneapolis for the inaugural Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy. Centered on the theme “Let It Be With Me According To Your Word: From Praying to Knowing to Doing,” the event features top liturgical voices and musicians across the ELCA. Registration is now open at www.seminarliturgy.org.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to truly flourish? A global study from Baylor University finds that regular participation in a faith community—not wealth or age—is a key factor in living a good life. Scripture agrees. In John 14, Jesus promises we are never alone, and the Spirit remains with us so we may live abundantly. This week’s Faith Lens explores how our call to community and presence—both divine and human—helps us flourish together, not apart.
Read MoreThe May 2025 issue of Administration Matters is now live. Find key updates on online Bible studies for the 2025 Churchwide Assembly, mental health resources for leaders, health benefit changes coming in 2026, and practical financial and safety tools for congregations. Don’t miss this valuable resource for leaders across the Grand Canyon Synod. Read the full issue.
Read MoreIn the latest Pivot podcast, discover biblical improvisation with Dr. Mark Glanville—where jazz meets Old Testament insight to craft sermons that resonate in today’s post-Christian world.
Read MoreGraduation season reminds us that some things we’re required to do—like learning—can become sources of joy and transformation. In John 13, Jesus offers a new commandment: to love one another. This law isn’t a burden but a gift that draws us closer to the heart of God’s good news. Explore how gospel and law intertwine in our everyday lives, and reflect on the ways love shows up in both what we’re told to do—and what we choose to do.
Read MoreThe 2025 School for Lay Ministry launches May 17! This 12-month program equips lay leaders with theological grounding, spiritual depth, and practical skills—from preaching and pastoral care to worship planning and administration. Download the info sheet and learn how to enroll or seek support from your congregation. Tuition is $600 with scholarships available. Learn more at faithlead.org/school-for-lay.
Read MoreLooking for ways to deepen your worship life or equip your music and liturgy leaders? Each month, ELCA Worship highlights events and tools from partner organizations across the Lutheran and ecumenical landscape. Opportunities this summer include the Lutheran Summer Music Academy (June 22–July 20), the ALCM Conference (Aug. 4–8), and the “Let It Be With Me” liturgy seminar (Aug. 13–15), along with rich resources from Sundays and Seasons, Music That Makes Community, and more. Click here to explore the full May update of events, training, and worship resources from ELCA partners.
Read MoreIn the latest Pivot podcast, host Dwight Zscheile interviews Pastor Ed Doerner from Messiah Lutheran Church about their revolutionary approach to church leadership and community engagement.
Read MoreWhen Jesus declared his identity as the Messiah, some still refused to believe—not because he hadn’t made it clear, but because they couldn’t accept what that meant. This week’s Faith Lens reflects on mistaken identity, from the return of the dire wolf to the confrontation in John 10, and asks: when the truth is right in front of us, are we ready to see and hear it? Read more and reflect on how your own self-understanding is shaped by faith.
Read MoreClergy Financial Resources is a proud sponsor of the 2025 Synod Assembly, helping offset the cost of electronic voting. As part of their sponsorship, they’re offering a free download of their 2025 Clergy Housing Guide using coupon code GCS2025. Learn more about their tax, payroll, and bookkeeping services for churches and clergy in this PDF or at clergyfinancial.com.
Read MoreNominate a leader by June 2 for the ELCA’s inaugural Building Resilient Leadership cohort—a 12-month program supporting justice-centered community projects. Participants receive seed funding, monthly training, and mentoring to grow their leadership and deepen their impact.
Read MoreFrom in-depth resources on the Revised Common Lectionary and church calendar to practical guides for worship planning, ELCA Worship highlights this month’s offerings from Augsburg Fortress. Explore new titles like A Three-Year Banquet, Using Evangelical Lutheran Worship Vol. 3: Keeping Time, and preorder the new Lutheran Study Bible(NRSVue). Plus, get ready for Sundays and Seasons: Year A and sign up for summer music clinics in five U.S. cities. To read the full list of resources and explore how they support worship leaders, planners, and musicians across the ELCA, click here.
Read MoreExplore this month’s free offerings from ELCA Coaching—vigils, trainings, and healing spaces centered on justice and faith. Events include a vigil for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, a gospel concert marking the 5th Angelversary of George Floyd, and the next round of Moving Toward Right Relations training. All are welcome.
Read MoreIn the latest Pivot podcast, discover effective approaches to Gen Z spiritual formation in this insightful Pivot Podcast episode featuring Eric Huseth.
Read MoreJoin thousands of pastors and leaders May 12–15 for the Festival of Homiletics—online or in Atlanta—as we worship, learn, and preach to heal the divide. Experience inspiring sermons, theological lectures, and uplifting worship grounded in Lutheran theology. Register today at festivalofhomiletics.com.
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